Can facial exercises keep the wrinkles away?

For a six-pack, do sit-ups. Muscular arms, try pull-ups. Toned legs, get to squatting. But, how can people exercise their face?

Those trying the latest fad in wrinkle removal say that “face fitness,” or exercising face muscles, will tone these muscles, causing the skin to tighten and wrinkles to disappear.

“It is intuitive to think that tightening facial muscles will improve the appearance of wrinkles,” says Dr. Rania Agha, dermatologist at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Ill. “Unfortunately, wrinkles form due to excess facial expressions. There’s no evidence that working out the facial muscles will lead to tightening and hence decreased wrinkles.”

Skin Gym Fitness is one of the many face fitness spas popping up in New York City. It offers various face fitness packages, one of which includes muscle interval training, a cool down and hydration mist with benefits including energizing the complexion and toning and strengthening the face muscles and skin.

Dr. Agha says face exercises may increase blood flow to the skin, but they may actually cause wrinkles. She notes that Botox injections, a common procedure to reduce wrinkles, doesn’t tone, but relaxes face muscles.

While there may be no fountain of youth when it comes to keeping skin looking youthful, Dr. Agha offers these recommendations for keeping skin looking young:

• Use sunscreen. Photoaging, or premature aging of the skin caused by exposure to the sun, causes increased wrinkles and decreased elasticity of the skin (hence wrinkles), as well as brown spots and uneven skin texture and tone.
• Use topical creams containing Prescription Retinoin (retin-A). This is a key component in the treatment of aging face and wrinkles.
• Adequate nutrition with good anti-oxidants and plenty of hydration are also important.
• Talk to your dermatologist.